Hat-box indicator



(No Model.)

A. B. BRUNBLL. .HAT BOX INDICATOR.

110. 464,006. Patented Dec. 1. 1891.

fl l afb n (fr awww/1to1 STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR B. BRUNELL, OF WTORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

HAT-BOX INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 464,006, dated December 1, 1891.

Application filed December l5, 1890. Serial No. 374,697. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, ARTHUR B. BRUNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vorcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hat-Box Indicators; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which, in connection with the drawings making a part cf this specifica-tion, will enable others skilled in the art to which myinvention belongs to makeand use the same.

My invention relates to hat-box indicators, more particularly for boxes holding mens hats; and the object of my invention is to provide a very simple and inexpensive indicator which can be readily attached to or removed from the hat-box and used a number of times without change. Said indicator is adapted to show at a glance how many and what sizes of hats are in the hat-box.

My invention consists in certain novel features of construction and operation of an in-h dicator for hat-boxes or other receptacles, as will be hereinafter fully described.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a hat-box for holding a number of mens hats, with my indicator attached thereto. Fig. 2 represents, on an enlarged scale, the indicator detached, with one of the indicatorcards removed; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line a: as, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of arrow ct, same figure, the attaching ends being bent backward.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 is a hatboX of any ordinary construction, usually made of card-board and adapted to hold a number of mens hats of diiferent sizes-in this instance six.

2 is the detachable supporting-band of the indicator, preferably stamped or cut out of a single piece of thin sheet metal, as tin-foil or card-board, or any other suitable material, and preferably of the shape shown in the drawings, having the tapering ends 2,which may be bent inward, as shown in Fig. 3, to extend through the side of thehat-box l. and be bent down to secure the band 2 thereto.

The supporting-band 2 has two series of slits 3 andv et made therein and extending parallel to each other in the direction of the length of the band 2. The upper series of slits 3 are in the upper part of the band 2, and the lower series 4 are in about the central part of the band, leaving nearly all ofthe lower half 2' of the band intact. The band 2 is stamped or cut out and the two series of slits 3 and 4 made therein, and the surfaces 2 and 2 of the band 2 above and below said slits and the surface 2 between said slits slightly pressed out from each other, as shown in the drawings, all at one operation. Movable indicator-cards 5, preferably made of elongated strips of paper or card-board, are combined with and supported in a Vertical position 4on the band 2 by inserting said cards through the slits 3 and 4, so that the surfaces 2" and 2 of the band 2 will extend overthe card 5, and the surface 2 will extend under said card, thus supporting and retaining the card in position. After the cards 5 have been attached to the band 2 in the manner above described their upper and lower edges are bent over outwardly, forming lips 5, which prevent the cards from dropping or being drawn out of the'band 2, and also serve as means for taking hold of the indicator-cards 5 to move the same up or down through the slits 3 and 4 in the supportingband 2. The indicator-cards 5 are lettered to correspond with the sizes of the hats contained in the box 1. Said lettering is on the middle portion of said cards and is adapted to show between the surfaces 2 and 2 of the band 2, as shown in the drawings. When it is desired to conceal the lettering on the cards 5, the cards are drawn down, as in Fig. 2, so that the lettering will be behind the surface 2 of the band 2.

The operation of my improved hat-'box indicator will be readily understood by those skilled. in the art from the above description in connection with the drawings, and is as follows:The supporting-band 2, having the cards 5 therein, is attached to the hat-box in the position shown in Fig. l. The indicatorcards 5 are lettered to correspond with the sizes of the hats in said box. When a hat is removed from the box l, the indicator-card 5, having thereon the size of said hat, is drawn down, as shown in Fig. 2, concealing the lettering on said indicator-card. As each hat is removed the indicator-card having the size thereon corresponding tothe hat removed is drawn down, thus showing at a glance how ICO many hats are left in the box and what sizes. lVhen a hat or number of hats are replaced in the box l, the indicator-cards 5, having the sizes thereon corresponding to the sizes of said hats, are pushed up to show that said hats are contained in said hat-box.

I have shown my indicator adapted to be used in connection with a hat-box or receptacle for mens hats; but it may equally well be'adapted to be used with receptacles for other articles.

The details of construction of the indicator may be varied some from what is shown and described, if desired.

I prefer to employ a detachable band, as 2, for supporting the indicator-cards 5; but said band may be dispensed with and the indicator-cards supported in the hat-box itself, which would have two sets of slits made therein corresponding to the slits 3 and t in the band 2 and the surfaces of the hat-box` pressed apart for the insertion and retention of the indicator-cards.

I am aware that prior to my invention different forms of indicators for different purposes have been patented; butI am not aware that any hat-box indicator of as simple construction and operation as my improved indicator has ever been known or used prior to my invention thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, ism

In an indicator for a hat-box or other receptacle, the combination, with the supporting strip or band made in one piece and having two series of short slits or cut-s made therein and extending parallel to each other in the direction of the length of the band, and the surfaces of the band above and below the slits pressed outwardly from the surface of the band between said slits, of a series of elongated movable indicator-cards having lettering thereon and having their free ends projecting above and below the band and bent outwardly, forming lips for the purpose stated, and each indicator-card supported in a vertical position on the band by being inserted through a pair of slits for the purpose stated, substantially as set forth.

ARTHUR B. BRUN ELL. Witnesses:

JOHN C. DEWEY, PHCEBE SYKEs. 

